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Cybersecurity Certification Roadmap · career track

Secure Systems Administration

Harden and operate Linux, Windows and cloud infrastructure securely.

Typical roles: Systems Engineer · Infrastructure Security

Plan this path in the app Track details

The track, phase by phase

  1. Foundation

  2. Core

    • Red Hat Certified System Administrator
    • Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
    • Linux Professional Institute LPIC-1
    • CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist

  3. Advanced

    • Red Hat Certified Engineer in Ansible
    • Red Hat Certified Engineer in Enterprise Linux (outside the security map)
    • LPIC-3 Security
    • Cloud Native Computing Foundation Certified Kubernetes Administrator

  4. Mastery

    • Cloud Native Computing Foundation Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist
    • Red Hat Certified Architect in Enterprise Linux
    • CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Expert

A suggestion, not a set of prerequisites: one or two certifications per phase is plenty. One certification is outside the cybersecurity map (another industry's roadmap), so it is listed here only.

Secure Systems Administration on the map

Verified against issuers' official pages · updated · 695 active certifications (4 upcoming not counted)

How to read the map
  • Each tile is one certification: its abbreviation, the issuer and, when the issuer publishes one, a listed-cost band. Hover (or open) a tile for the full name.
  • under $300
  • $300 to $999
  • $1,000 to $2,999
  • $3,000 or more
  • No sign: price not published by the issuer
  • Upcoming Announced by the issuer but not yet available: not counted
  • Solid border and a phase number: on this track
  • Dashed border, greyed: not on this track

Communication & Network Security 36 certifications1 on this track

Beginner, 10 certifications

Intermediate, 19 certifications

Expert, 7 certifications

Identity & Access Management 18 certificationsnot on this track

Beginner, 4 certifications

Intermediate, 12 certifications

Expert, 2 certifications

Security Architecture & Engineering 107 certifications12 on this track

Beginner, 31 certifications

Cloud / SysOps
*nix
ICS / IoT
Other

Intermediate, 67 certifications

Cloud / SysOps
*nix
ICS / IoT
Other

Expert, 9 certifications

Cloud / SysOps
*nix
ICS / IoT
Other

Asset Security 29 certificationsnot on this track

Beginner, 12 certifications

Intermediate, 13 certifications

Expert, 4 certifications

Security & Risk Management 170 certificationsnot on this track

Beginner, 41 certifications

GRC
Other

Intermediate, 105 certifications

GRC
Other

Expert, 24 certifications

GRC
Other

Security Assessment & Testing 32 certificationsnot on this track

Beginner, 4 certifications

Intermediate, 27 certifications

Expert, 1 certification

Software Security 32 certificationsnot on this track

Beginner, 9 certifications

Intermediate, 21 certifications

Expert, 2 certifications

Security Operations 271 certificationsnot on this track

Beginner, 50 certifications

SOC / Threat Intel
Forensics
Incident Handling
Penetration Testing

Intermediate, 180 certifications

SOC / Threat Intel
Forensics
Incident Handling
Penetration Testing
Exploitation

Expert, 41 certifications

SOC / Threat Intel
Forensics
Incident Handling
Penetration Testing
Exploitation
Other career tracks (19)
Retired / replaced (76)

No longer offered by their issuers, so not on the map. Holders keep them; each page says what replaced it, where anything did.

  • ACE AccessData Certified Examiner
  • Apple ACSP Apple Certified Support Professional
  • AZ-220 Microsoft Certified: Azure IoT Developer Specialty
  • AZ-500 Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate → replaced by SC-500
  • C)ISCAP Mile2 Information Systems Certification and Accreditation Professional
  • C)ISSA Mile2 Certified Information Systems Security Auditor
  • CCSM Check Point Certified Security Master
  • CDRP Infosec Institute Certified Data Recovery Professional
  • CET ISACA Certified in Emerging Technology
  • CIISec ICSF CIISec Information and Cybersecurity Fundamentals
  • CITGP IBITGQ Certified in Implementing IT Governance - Foundation & Principles
  • Cloud Essentials CompTIA Cloud Essentials
  • CNDA EC-Council Certified Network Defense Architect
  • CREST CCHIA CREST Certified Host Intrusion Analyst → replaced by CREST CCIM
  • CREST CCNIA CREST Certified Network Intrusion Analyst → replaced by CREST CCIM
  • CREST CRTSA CREST Registered Technical Security Architect
  • CSA CCAK Cloud Security Alliance / ISACA Certificate of Cloud Auditing Knowledge
  • CSA CGC Cloud Security Alliance Cloud Governance & Compliance → replaced by CSA CCSK
  • CSSA Infosec Institute Certified SCADA Security Architect
  • CSX-P ISACA CSX Cybersecurity Practitioner → replaced by CCOA
  • DV AOPH Dark Vortex Adversary Operations & Proactive Hunting
  • DV MILF Dark Vortex Malware Incident & Log Forensics
  • DV MoS Dark Vortex Malware On Steroids
  • EEHF EXIN Ethical Hacking Foundation
  • EEXIN ISM EXIN Information Security Management Expert
  • eNDP eLearnSecurity Network Defense Professional
  • EPDPP EXIN Privacy and Data Protection Practitioner
  • EXIN 27001E EXIN ISO/IEC 27001 Expert
  • EXIN PCA EXIN Professional Cloud Administrator
  • EXIN PCD EXIN Professional Cloud Developer
  • EXIN PCSA EXIN Professional Cloud Solution Architect
  • EXIN PCSerM EXIN Professional Cloud Service Manager
  • EXIN PCSM EXIN Professional Cloud Security Manager
  • Fair Fdn FAIR Institute Analysis Fundamentals
  • FCA Fortinet Certified Associate Cybersecurity
  • FCF Fortinet Certified Fundamentals Cybersecurity
  • FCP NS Fortinet Certified Professional - Network Security
  • FCP PCS Fortinet Certified Professional - Public Cloud Security
  • FCP SO Fortinet Certified Professional - Security Operations
  • FCSS NS Fortinet Certified Solution Specialist Network Security
  • FCSS OT Fortinet Certified Solution Specialist - OT Security
  • FCSS PCS Fortinet Certified Solution Specialist - Public Cloud Security
  • FCSS SASE Fortinet Certified Solution Specialist - Secure Access Service Edge
  • FCSS SO Fortinet Certified Solution Specialist - Security Operations
  • FCSS ZTA Fortinet Certified Solution Specialist - Zero Trust Access
  • FCX Fortinet Certified Expert Cybersecurity
  • GCPM GIAC Certified Project Manager
  • GCWN GIAC Certified Windows Security Administrator
  • GEVA GIAC Enterprise Vulnerability Assessor
  • GLEG GIAC Law of Data Security & Investigations
  • GSNA GIAC Systems and Network Auditor
  • HCISPP ISC2 HealthCare Information Security and Privacy Practitioner
  • ITCA ISACA Information Technology Certified Associate
  • MAD CTI MITRE ATT&CK Defender Cyber Threat Intelligence
  • MAD SOCA MITRE ATT&CK Defender Security Operations Center Assessment
  • MASE Mosse Institute Certified Application Security Engineer
  • MCD Mosse Institute Certified Code Deobfuscation Specialist Certification
  • MCL Mosse Institute Cybersecurity Leadership
  • MESE Mosse Institute Enterprise Security Engineer
  • MNSE Mosse Institute Network Security Essentials
  • NCSC CCPLP NCSC Certified Cyber Professional (CCP) – Lead Practitioner
  • NCSC CCPP NCSC Certified Cyber Professional (CCP) – Practitioner
  • NCSC CCPSP NCSC Certified Cyber Professional (CCP) – Senior Practitioner
  • OSMR OffSec macOS Researcher
  • PCCET Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician → replaced by PAN Cyber Practitioner
  • PCCSE Prisma Certified Cloud Security Engineer → replaced by PAN Cloud Sec Eng
  • PCDRA Palo Alto Networks Certified Detection and Remediation Analyst → replaced by PAN XDR Analyst
  • PCNSA Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Administrator → replaced by PAN NetSec Analyst
  • PCNSE Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer → replaced by PAN NGFW Engineer
  • PCSAE Palo Alto Certified Cloud Security Automation Engineer
  • SC-400 Microsoft Certified: Information Protection and Compliance Administrator Associate → replaced by SC-401
  • TUV Auditor IT Security Auditor (TÜV)
  • TUV MSA Mobile Security Analyst with TÜV Rheinland Certified Qualification
  • VCIX DCV VMware Certified Implementation Expert in Datacenter Virtualization
  • VCIX NV VMware Certified Implementation Expert in Network Virtualization
  • Zach EAPro Zachman Enterprise Architect Professional (Level 3)

About this map

Adapted from Paul Jerimy's Security Certification Roadmap, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; changed (restructured, updated and extended from issuers' official sources). This adapted roadmap data is shared under the same license, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Not affiliated with the issuers; certification names are trademarks of their owners. Prices, requirements and availability change: confirm on the issuer's official page (linked from every certification page) before you register or pay.